Laura Mary (Bailey) Lewis

Laura Mary Lewis, 95, passed away on August 16, 2026, following a brief illness. She preferred to be called Mary.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 27, 1931, the daughter of Jessie S. Bailey and Elenora Flora (Dorn) Baily. Mary attended Geneva city schools until 1944 after which she attended Andrews School for Girls, graduating in 1949. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree in education from Mount Vernon College and later received her master's degree in ESL from Findlay College.

In 1951, she married Jack K. Lewis, her loving and devoted husband. They shared a marriage filled with love, friendship, and mutual admiration, and were blessed with five sons who were Mary’s pride and joy.

Mary was an exceptional teacher. She took great pride in her work and loved her students as if they were her own children. She retired from teaching in 1991 after years of service. She then taught for several more years as an English as a Second Language Instructor, fully retiring in 2005.

She is survived by her loving family, including her sons: Matt Lewis, Eric Lewis, Emil Lewis and Benjamin Lewis; her sister Dianna; her grandchildren: Chandra Miller, Aaron Lewis, Colin Lewis, Melissa Ann Lewis, and Kirstie Lewis; and her great-grandchildren: Mason Lewis, Adrianna Lewis, Jordan Miller, Maribeth Miller and Taylor Ann Lewis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack (d. 1998), her son Grant Lewis (d. 2016) and her half-brother, Nathan Baily (d. 2024). 

Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, August 21, at 1:00 PM at the Saybrook United Methodist Church, 7901 Depot Rd., Ashtabula, with Norman Essman officiating.

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